I grew up in rural areas of the Eastern Cape. Growing up as young Xhosa lady shaped my childhood with lot of memories and experience.

Growing up i used to spend more time with my cousins we were raised by our grandparents. My grand-father had lots of Cows back then, so in my childhood days i didn't know if whether I am a girl or a boy because I used to look after my grandfathers cows, and also my grand-father use to tell us that in his house there is no girl there is no boy we are all equal. I didn't even have a dress code it was not easy to identify if I am a female or a male.

the school that I attended is the one that patiently molded me into becoming a women and dresses like a female. my grand-father was a traditional men so when he noticed that I am becoming a women he did "intonjane" where all young Xhosa girls gather together to be groomed and disciplined by old Xhosa women of the village, teaching young girls how to behave as women, and what is expected from a women. this ritual takes place when a girl had her first period.

One of the most celebrated traditional events in Xhosa culture is (umgidi) which is a homecoming ceremony for Xhosa boys from the Mountain. it is most important in our culture as it introduced young boy into what it to become a mam, in our culture man are being considered as head of a family.

By looking at my journey from childhood to become a young women and an adult is filled with happiness, lot of memories and I gained more knowledge, and what it takes to be a Xhosa women and what is expected from me.